You already know that feeling of listening to a brand new tune that you simply like from an artist that you simply’re unsure that you simply like? The primary run by is crammed with skepticism. As catchy as it’s, you’re unwilling to confess that you simply take pleasure in it. Then you definitely hear it once more, and it’s like, effectively, shit, I assume even Put up Malone can have a second of readability. That’s the NHL’s All-Star Weekend for me. I’m severe. It’s truly good. It may be the perfect of America’s 4 main professional sports activities.

I got here to this realization Friday night time as I sat transfixed on the abilities competitors and realized a 12 months in the past I sat on the similar bar and equally couldn’t take my eyes off it. A season in the past, gamers tried to place collectively the perfect poker hand by whipping pucks at playing cards. This time round, they had been knocking over surfboards, and a dunk tank lever was the ultimate goal. There was a golf problem, too, and guys performed a gap with a stick and a puck.

Granted the sound was off, and I don’t know what led Alexander Ovechkin’s son working the flying V together with his dad and Sydney Crosby, but it surely appeared like everybody loved the fan service. And that’s what All-Star weekend’s are actually about.

What the NHL will get proper

The method that the NHL adopted — in all probability with some assist from new-ish TV companion ESPN — is principally an X Video games mannequin. There are occasions occurring continuously, and useless time is crammed with pretaped segments.

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This new trickshot, breakaway challenge has been awesome. Last year, a guy scored a goal with a blindfold on, and the Ovi, Ovi Jr., and Crosby second might take advantage of bitter blogger smile. Whereas I do know little or no about hockey, I do know Crosby is extremely polarizing, and he got here off likable. (He additionally was on the fallacious finish of the dunk tank.)

The competitors itself was a 3-v-3 event that featured a ton of scoring and uptempo play. The NHL even discovered a option to give divisions which means, not less than for a couple of hours, by sorting the groups in line with their sect. (Dylan Larkin led the Atlantic to the win.)

For a sport that has hassle getting out of its personal approach, this new funhouse strategy to All-Star Weekend is as welcome as it’s shocking.

Different leagues ought to attempt the NHL’s method even when it gained’t work

We’ve come to a degree with the Professional Bowl that the complete weekend is a abilities competitors. It’s enjoyable to observe Saquon Barkley play dodgeball. But, a lot of the huge names don’t present up or decide out or are within the Tremendous Bowl (or, in Josh Allen’s case, on the golf course). And in the event that they do present up, they’ll be taking part in something however soccer.

The NBA has failed to repair the dunk contest for years, the three-point shootout was attention-grabbing earlier than everyone become Glen Rice, and god solely is aware of why the abilities problem nonetheless exists. (Wait, does it?) The most effective drama all weekend is when the captains decide groups, and we get to see who’s the final decide on the playground.

If it looks like the NHL is simply throwing pucks at a wall (or a taking part in card or a surfboard or a placing inexperienced) to see what sticks, that’s precisely what’s occurring. There are apparent variables for every league, and the transfer is to attempt a bunch of various stuff till you discover, or bump into, what works.

It shouldn’t be this tough to make a gathering of all-stars entertaining. Perhaps seven-on-seven will do it, or perhaps put the QBs in sumo fits and have them block for the offensive linemen. I don’t know. Get inventive.